Improvement in ventilating-bungs



S. H. LESSER.

VENTILATING BU'NG.

No. lez oz Patented July 3, 18771 ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIMON H. LEssER, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN VENTlLATlNG-B UNGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 192,702, dated July 3, 1877 application filed June 11, 1 877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON H. LESSER, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Ventilating- Bung, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure '1 represents a top view, and Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal section, of my improved ventilatingbung on line as as, Fig; 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention is intended to furnish an improved bung forthe water-casks for sea-goin g vessels, for beer-kegs, and other purposes, by which a hermetical sealing of the bung hole is obtained, and air admitted for giving vent at any moment without opening the bunghole.

l The invention consists of a hinged and spring-acted bung that is fitted tightly into a seat of the cask and locked by a spring catch or bolt, the bong being provided with a ventilating device for admitting or shutting off the air.

In the drawing, A represents a metallic plate, with annular extension fitted into the bung-hole and forming a seat for the bung B, which is hinged at one side to the plate A, and locked at the other into closed position by a suitable spring catch or bolt, G. A band or other spring applied to the bung at or near the hinge, produces the closing of the same and prevents thereby the accidental remaining open of the bung. The neglect of closing the bung forms a frequent source of the spoiling of the water in vessels, as the men, after having pumped water from the cask, allow the bung to remain open, so that the sea-water, when the waves are dashing over the bow, enter the casks and spoilthe water. The bung closes hermetically to its seat by means of a suitable rubber packing or gasket, so that no air or water can enter or leave the bung-holes.

The bung B is provided with a central ventilating device, O,'which is made of a revolving top plate with holes a registering with holes b of a fixed plate below to admit air. A rubber or other packing-plate is interposed between the fixed and revolving plate, so as to-produce the tight closing of of the ventilator. when the top plate is closed.

The ventilator is opened or closed by a handle, d, of the top plate, and provided with a perforated guard-plate, e, below the fixed plate, to prevent the entrance of any impurities through the holes of the ventilator. The ventilator furnishes the advantage that air may be admitted to the water or other casks without opening the bung and exposing thereby the contents to the danger of being spoiled. In rough weather the ventilator is closed so that no seawater may enter.

When water is to be pumped, the bung is opened, the pump inserted, and the bung closed automatically by its spring and springcatch after the pump is withdrawn, so that a useful and reliable ventilating-bung for watercasks of vessels and other purposes is provided.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, as far as completed- I. The combination of a plate, A, fittedto and around the bung-hole of a cask or other receptacle, and forming a seat for the hung, with a hermetically-closing hinged and springlocked bung, having a ventilating device, substantially in the manner described, and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with a hung, B, of a ventilator, D, made of a revolving top plate having holes a, fixed plate having holes b, and perforated guard-plate a, substantially as specified.

SIMON H. LESSER.

Witnesses (J. SEDGWIGK, ALEX. F. ROBERTS- 

